Operating and controlling mechanism for hydraulic barber chairs



L. A. CARTER Dec. 3, 1929.

OPERATING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR HYDRAULIC BARBER CHAIRS A 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1928 I FIN L. A. CARTER 1,738,284

OPERATING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR HYDRAULIC BARBER CHAIRS Dec. 3, 1929.

Filed May 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,4 Mn: 1 6hr far, A7" TO R NE Y5:

Patented Dec. 3, 1929 curren s'rATes PATENT OFFICE LIONEL A. CARTER, or WEBSTER GROVES, or SEE. Louis, MrssoURr, A

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO KOKEN COMPANIES, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Application filed May 7, 1928. Serial N0. 275,677.

This invention relates to chairs of the type commonly referred to as hydraulic barber chairs, and particularly to the means used in such chairs for operating the pump plunger and for releasing the clamp associated with a reclining bar that holds the back and apron of the chair in adjusted position.

One chair of the general type mentioned, that is now in commercial use, is equipped with a seat frame attached to the upper end of a hollow stem which reciprocates in a stationary socket in the base of the chair. A pump plunger, which is reciprocatingly mounted in the stem, is used to effect and control the circulation of a non-compressihle liquid to raise and lower the stem which carries the seat frame, and a handle or operating lever is used to actuate said pump plunger. W hen it is desired to raise the seat frame the operating handle is rocked back and forth so as to impart short strokes to the pump plunger, and thus cause charges of liquid to be forced from the stem into the socket, thereby exerting upward pressure on the stem, and when it is desired to lower the seat frame, a full stroke is imparted to the operating handle, so as to move the pump plunger into such a position that it will open a valve and permit the liquid in the socket to pass upwardly through by-pass ports into the stem, with the result that the stem and the seat frame connected to same move downwardly by gravity. The back and apron of the chair are held in adjusted position by a spring-pressed clamp which acts on a part, commonly termed a reclining bar, which clamp is released or rendered inoperative by pulling upwardly on the hand grip of the handle and then rocking the handle in a direction parallel to the side edge of the seat frame.

My invention consists of a novel means for coupling the operating handle of a hy draulic barbers chair of the general type mentioned with the rock shaft that actuates the pump plunger, and for transmitting movement from said handle to the reclining bar clamp so as to release the reclining bar, one object of the invention being to provide an operating and controlling mechanism whose parts are of such design and arrangement that the mechanism is particularly adapted for use on a chair whose seat frame has a'relatively great range of vertical movement and is capable of being moved downwardly to a lower level than is customary with conventional hydraulic barbers chairs.

Another object is to provide an operating and controlling mechanism for hydraulic barbers chairs, which is of such design that the reclining bar clamp can be released simply by pushing the upper end of the handle inwardly towards the seat frame, followed by a slight rocking movement of said handle parallel to the side edge of the seat frame.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a controlling and operating mechanism for hydraulic barbers chairs that is of rugged construction and of such design that it is not necessary to form an opening in the flange of the seat frameof the chair to receive any parts of said mechanism, even though the seat frame is equipped with a relatively deep flange. Other objects and desirable features of my invention willbe hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side eleva tional view of a barbers chair equippedwith a controlling and operating mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the seat frame, with the stem and some of the parts of the mechanism broken away so as to more clearly illustrate the construction of same.

Figure 3 is a detail view, illustrating how the clutch between the handle and the rock shaft is tripped or rendered inoperative by exerting a slight inward thrust on the upper end of the handle. i

Figure 4 is a similar View, showing how a slight rocking movement of the handle after said clutch has been tripped causes the reclining bar clamp to be released.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the stem, with the seat frame removed.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 6- -6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6,

7 showing the position which the parts assume when the handle is being rocked to impart short strokes to the pump plunger.

Fi ure 8 is a view similar to Figure showing the position which the parts assume when a vffil]! stroke-is impartedito' the handle so as to'cause"th\e stem and seat-frame to descend.

Eigureefiwisa a: View! similar to-rFigure- 6-,: 0 showing the p0s1t10n.-.wlr1ch=.theepartsassume when the operating handle is rocked to release then'eclimingjoarsclampn a Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken on the line 1010 of Figure 2, lookingin th'e-direction indicated by the arrows; and

Wgflree11 is-a sectional view, taken on the line 11 11-- of Figure Q; looking-inthe direetiorr indicatedby the arrows;

Refe'ring-to the drawingswhich illustrate -the"preerred-form of my; invention, A- designat'es the-seat of a conventional barbers chair; 3' designates the stem which carriestheeseatfifiame, G" designates thebase that hold'a so'cket or cylinder 'which receives the stem- B- Df designates thep-lunger, shownin broken llnes'in h igure 1; that is-used to force "chhrges ofliquid fiomthestem into the: socket'tb cause the-stem- -to-move upwardly, and alsoused to tripthevalvewhich permits the -liquidto pass' from thes0cketnpwardly into thestemWhen'it' is desired to lower-the seat 1 ofithe'chair, Edesignates ahorizon-tally-disposed rook shaft' mounted at 1 the upper end of th e stem underneath'the seatframe and 5rproVided' with-a crank arm E and- F designates wlink -that j oins said crank arm to the plunger-1'1)! 'I'liechairis-equ-ipped witlr a batk Gand an: apron Hthabare combined with the: seat in such a way that the back can 40 be m'ran'ged' ilr a recli-ned position as shown in broken lines in Figure 1, and saidback andapron: are held inadjusted position-by means ofaireclining bar I th at-isconneeted to theiapron an d which co-operates with a y elampicomrposed of itwo :j aw-sor elements-J and J between which the recliningbar passesyas-shown in Figure- 2. Movement is I imparted to-the rock shaft E-soas to actuate the -pump plnnger- D and movement is im- -z parted to one jaw or element-of 1th ereclining bar clamp so as to release the: recliningbar,

' by-meansiof'azr operatinghan'dl'e onleverK.

The handle K isi-arranged atone side of the'oseat frame of the chair 'andiis provided 'at its lower end with a horizontally disposed port-ionliwhichhprojets inwardly under the seati'framei Att the inner: end of the horizontally-'disposed portion 1 0i said handle is an upwardly-projecting, bifurcated portion 92 th a't is' -pivotally connectedby 'a pivot pin 3 to a bearing i -which" is mounted on'the roek-sh aftIE in -sucha way'that it is free to oscillate on 'saidaslraft-iand also move longitudinally, of said sha'ft. Normally, the 657" T ea ing i is prevented from turning-oraos cillating relatively to the shaft E by a clutch formed by a lug 5 carried by the upwardlyprojecting portion 2 of the handle, and a notch 6 formed in a collar 7 that is secured by a pin 8 or in any other suitable manner, to therock shaft E, adjacent the point where theouterend of-said rock shaft is journaled in-a bearing on the bracket 9 that projects 7 laterallyironithe-platerlO at=the uppenendoi? thest-em to which the seat-frame 1s connected. When the lug 5 is arranged in the notch .6 in: .the collar 7 the handle; K1 will be operatively connected to the rock shaft E in such a waythat a rocking movement imparted to said handle in a direction parallel to the adj aeen-t side "edge-of theseat frameof 'the chair will'cause-the shaftE 'to rock, and thus reciprocate the plungenl)? Ifit is desired to raise theseat'frametheop'erator rocks the hand-l'Kback and forth, asindicated in Figures-6 andT, so as'toimpart short strokes to the plungenD, thereby causing the liquid in the-stemto be forceddown-wardly into the socket If it is desired to-lower' the seat frame, the: op'erator'imparts afull forward strok'e-to'thehandleK,as-indicated in- Figure 8, thereby causing the-'plungcrD to trip the valve"whiclrpermits the liquid to flow upwardly through th'e'by-pass ports iromthe socket into the-stem.- In order to assist the operator in manipulating the handle'K'prop' erly'in' the operation of lowering the seat frame; the bearing-40hwhiclr the handle is pivoted is provided witlr a spring-pressed bu'tferll thatisadapted tostrike against the bracket'9, thusotle'ring someresistance to the movement of thehandle, when a full forward stroke is imparted to the handle, thereby notifyingtheoperator that thehandle has been" pushed into. a: positionsto release the valve whichpermits theliquid to pass upwardlyirom .thesocketinto the hollow stem of'the chair:

As previouslystated, the-reclining bar clamp is.com=posed.of.'two elements or jaws J and J! Tli'ese'jaws are pivotally connected together by a': pivot 12 arranged above recesses in the: meeting fa'ees'of the j aws'that' receive'the reclining bar I, and .said aws are combinedx'in such a way. as to form a single unitthat' is' rockably mounted'on the rock' sh'aft E, atr'one' side of'the stem-.B ofithe chair:v The jaw J 5 is capable of rocking or swinging towards and away from the cooperating stationary jaw J andexpansion springs 13 are interposed between said aws above the pivotal connection 12 between the same so as'to normally hold said jaws pressed tightly against the reclining bar. When it is "desired to release the reclining bar, preparatory to changing the position of the back andapron ofthe chair, the operator exerts pressure 'On' theupper'end of the handle 1C inwardly towards the seat frame of the chair, thcrebyroeking saidh'andle on-its pivot 3 into the position shown in Figure 3, which operation causes the lug 5 on the upwardlyprojecting portion 2iat the lower end of the handle to be withdrawn from the notch in the collar 7 on the rock shaft E, thereby unclutching the handle K from the rock shaft E. The operator then swings the upper end of the handle K to the left, looking at Figures 1 and 9, so as to cause an inclined surface 5 on the outer end of the lug 5 to engage and travel over cam surface 7 on the inner side of the collar 7. The pressure which said cam surface exerts on the lug 5 during this rocking movement of the handle K causes the 4 bearing a to shift longitudinally of the rock shaft from the position shown in Figure 3 into the position shown in Figure 4, thereby causing said bearing 4 to exert pressure on the movable jaw J of the reclining bar clamp in a direction to move said jaw into the position shown in Figure 4, thus releasing the reclining bar. During the operation of adjusting or changing the position of the back and apron the reclining bar clamp is effectively retained in its released or open position by the engagement of the cam 7 a on the collar 7, with the lug 5 on the handle K. To render the reclining bar clamp operative it is only necessary to restore the handle K to its normal upright position, and as soon as the lug 5 comes into alignment with the notch 6 in the collar 7, the pressure which the springs 13 of the reclining bar clamp exert on the movable jaw J causes the bearing a to shift longitudinally of the shaft E in the opposite direction, back into the position shown in Figure 3.

in an hydraulic barbefis chair operating and controlling mechanism of the kind described it is only necessary for the operator to 3 the handle K a slight inward push towair the seat frame of the chair, followed by a slight rocking movement parallel to the side edge of the seat frame, in order to release the raclining bar. Movement is imparted to the pump plunger D to raise and lower the seat frame by manipulating the handle K in the same n'ianner as in the conventional barbers chair. The parts of the mechanism are of simple design and they are so compactly arranged that the mechanism is particularly adapted for use on achair who-s seat frame is capable of moving downwardly to a lower level than is the usual custom, and another desirable feature of such a mechanism is that it is of such design that no part of same has to pass through the de pending flange on the seat frame of the chair, even when the seat frame is equipped with an I ept-ionally deep flange.

l'laving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in an hydraulic barbers chair of the type that comprises a vertically-movable stem and a reclining back, a reciprocating plunger for effecting the raising and lowering of said stem, a reclining bar and a co-operating clamp for holding the back in its adjusted position, a rock shaft operatively connected with said plunger, a handle for actuating said rock shaft to impart movement to the plunger, ashiftable bearing on which said handle is pivotally mounted, co-operating clutch members on said shaft and handle adapted to be disengaged by rocking said handle on its pivot, and means whereby a slight oscillatory movement of said handle after it are been disengaged from said shaft 'auses said bearing to exert pressure on the reclining bar clamp in a direction to release the reclining bar.

2. In an hydraulicbarbers chair of the type that comprises a vertically-movable stem and a reclining baclr, a reciprocating plunger for effecting the raising and lowering of said stem, a reclining bar and a co-operating clamp for holding the back in its adjusted position, a rock shaft operativcly connected with said plunger, a handle for actuating said rock shaft to impart movement to the plunger, a bearing mounted loosely on said rock shaft, a handle pivotally connected to said bearing, aclutch member on said shaft, a co-operating clutch member on said handle that is adapted to be disengaged from the clutch member on the shaft by reciting said handle on its pivot, and cooperating surfaces on said clutch members for causing said bearing to move longitudinally of said shaft and exert pressure on the reclining bar clamp in a direction to re lease the reclining bar when said handle is moved in a direction to cause said bearing to turn on said shaft.

In an hydraulic barbers chair of the type that comprises a vertically-movable stem and a reclining back, a plunger for effecting the raising and lowering of said stem, a reclining bar and a co-operating clamp for holding the back in adjusted position, a reel: shaft for operating said plunger arranged horizontally at the upper end of said stem beneath the seat frame of the chair, a bearing mounted on said shaft and adapted to scillate and also shift longitudinally of said shaft, a handle provided at its lower end with a portion that projects under the seat frame of the chair and which is provided with an. upwardly-projecting part that is pivotally connected to said bearing, a clutch member connected to said upwardly-prejecting part, a co-operating clutch member connected to said rocr shaft, and a cam on one of said clutch members that causes said hearing to exert pressure on the reclining bar clamp in a direction to release the reclining bar when said handle is oscillated about said rock shaft as an axis after said clutch members have been disengaged.

LUZ

lit)

4. l n anhlydraulic barbers chair ofthetylpe that-comprisesa vertically-movable stem that carries the seat frame,- a reclining back, a

' plunger for effecting the raising and lowervingot the stem and the seat frame thereon,

I an upwardly-projecting, bifurcated part that is pivotally connected to said bearing, a collar-connected to said rock shaft and providedwith anotch, a lug on the bifurcated vpart of the handle that is adapted to enter "said notch, and-'a'cam on said'collar for causing'sa'id bearing toexert pressure on -'the reclining bar clamp in a direction to release thereclining bar when said handle is oscillatecbabout said rock'sh'a ft as an .axis after i the 'lu'g'on said handle has been disengaged fromfthe notch in said collar.

'5, In an hydraulic barbers chair of the type that comprises a 'verticallymiovable stem and a reclining-back, a reciprocating plunger for 'effecting'the raising and lowerings of said stem, a reclining bar anda cooperating clamp for holding the back in its adjusted position, a rock shaft operatively connected with said plunger, a handle for actuating said rock shaft to impart movement to the plunger, a shiftable bearing on said roc'k shaft on which said handle is pivotally mounted for swinging movement longitudinally of the rock shaft, a clutch for co'nnecti'ng's'aid handle with said rock shaft,

provided with means for causing said clutch to'be rendered inoperative whensaid handle is rockedflno'ne direct on on lts pivot, and

' means whereby an oscillatory movement of said handle after said clutch has been rendered inoperative, causes the reclining bar to berleased from its clamp.

6.,In an hydraulic barbers chair of the type that comprises a vertically-movable stem and "a reclining back, a reciprocating plunger for effecting the raising and lowering of said stem, a reclining bar and a cooperating clamp for holding the back in its adjusted position, a rock shaft operati-vely connected with said plunger, a handle for actuating said rock shaft to impart movementto said plunger, a shiftable bearing on which said handle is pivotally mounted, a

clutch for connecting saidhand-le'to said rock shaft, provided with means whereby a slight inward movement of the upper end of said handle towards the seat frame of the chair renders the clutchinoperative and releases igvsam i said handle zfirom said rock shaft, and means w-he'rebyan oscillatory movement of the hend-le' relatively to said rock shaft, after the clutch has been rendered inoperative, causes the reclining bar "cla mpto be released.

LIONEL A. CARTER. 

